Last stitch and tie stitch placing system

ABSTRACT

A box stitching machine is disclosed which includes a stitching head and a set of pull rollers for intermittently moving a box to be stitched past the stitching head. An operating motor drives a shaft which is connected to the pull rollers through a clutch brake combination. Logic circuitry which is selectively responsive to (1) a pair of photocells for determining the position of a box to be stitched and (2) a counter which counts the number of stitches put into a box, drives a power circuit for controlling the brake clutch combination. Details of the logic circuitry are also disclosed showing how the brake clutch combination can be controlled to provide (1) a predetermined number of stitches in a box, (2) automatically place a last stitch at a predetermined position in the box without regard to the number of stitches placed therein and (3) provide tie stitches at leading and trailing ends of a stitched box.

. United States Patent 1 Stanton [54] LAST STITCH AND TIE STITCH PLACING SYSTEM [75,] Inventor: Stephen Stanton, Baltimore, Md.

[73] Assignee: Precision Industries, Inc., Baltimore,

v Md.

[22] Filed: 7 Jan. 5, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 215,604

[52] US. Cl 227/7, 227/3, 227/102 [51] Int. Cl B27f 7/06 [58] Field of Search 227/2, 3, 5, 6, 7, '227/102 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,317,303 4 1943 Spiller 227/6 3,664,564 5/1972 Stanton et a]... i 227/7 2,785,403 3/1957 Harred 227/7 3,120,664 2/1964 Mott.... 227/2 3,599,855 8/1971 Henc 227 102 [451 Sept. 11, 1973 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Harold P. Smith, Jr. AttorneyLawrence l. Lerner et a1.

ABSTRACT A box stitching machine is disclosed which includes a stitching head and a set of pull rollers for intermittently moving a box to be stitched past the stitching head. An operating motor drives a'shaft which is connected to the pull rollers through a clutch brake combination. Logic circuitry which is selectively responsive to (l) a pair of photocells for determining the position of a box to be stitched and (2) a counter which counts the number of stitches put into a box, drives a power circuit for controlling the brake clutch combination. Details of the logic circuitry are also disclosed showing how the brake clutch combination can be controlled to provide (1) a predetermined number of stitches in a box, (2) automatically place a last stitch at a predetermined position in the box without regard to the number of stitches placed therein and (3) provide tie stitches at leading and trailing ends of a stitched box.

26 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures I P e 623%,? Y 6 32755 a 5 M- 22 /7 Q 5 LAST STITCH AND TIE STITCH PLACING. SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to box stitching machinery and particularly to a box stitching machine which can be employed to stitch various size and weight boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the art of box stitching, it has been known for many years to construct a box stitching machine comprising a stitching head for applying wire stitches to the overlapping portions of a box blank passing therebeneath, and conveying means for incrementally advancing the box blank past the stitching head. Conventionally, such conveying means has taken the form of cooperating pull rollers which sandwich the box blank therebetween and advance same through the machine in response to the driving rotation thereof.

In the control of such machinery, at start up it is necessary to have the pull rolls operating at a continuous high rate of speed to initially convey the box blank from the input side of the machine (and normally from .the operators manual controlof the box blank) toward the stitching station defined by the stitching head. When the box blank has reached a preselected position with respect to the stitching head, appropriate sensing means (in the form of a mechanical sensing finger or a photocell arrangement) detects the leading edge of the box blank to energize a timer which after timed out,

generates a command signal to start the operation of the stitching head which then begins to apply the first stitch to the box blank now positioned therebeneath.

Simultaneously, a signal must be generated to stop the aforementioned pull rollers such that the box blank will be stationary beneath the head when the first stitch is applied thereto. After the completion of thefirst stitch, and after the stitch driving means associated with the head has been lifted from .the box blank, another signal must be generated to start the pull rollers moving again to advance the blank a preselected distance whereupon the pull rollers must again be stopped to halt the movement of the box blank to await the application of the next stitch being applied by the now continuously operating stitching head. This cycle of stop and start movement of the box blank, and the application of a stitch at the stop or dwell period of the box blank motion, continues until a preselected number of stitches have been applied. At that point, the stitching head must be deenergized, and the pull rolls returned to their earlier mode of continuous operation to rapidly eject the box blank out the rear of the stitching machine. I

The bulk of the prior art stitching machines generate the above signals by purelymechanical means. For example, the control signals can be generated by employing cams, cam followers, mechanical gears, etc. to generate, synchronize and coordinate the various operations discussed above. An example of this type of operation is the box stitching apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,403. As a result of the mechanical generation of signals to synchronize and coordinate the various functions of the stitching machine, a rigidity in stitching pattern has inherently ensued.

As will be appreciated, various types of stitching patterns can be generated by these mechanical elements. But heretofore the machines built have been capable of only applying a predetermined pattern of stitching to a box. For example a machine may have been capable of applying a tie stitch to the leading edge of a carton, equally spaced stitches therefrom for a predetermined number of stitches and a tie stitch thereafter. This, however, was a single pattern programmed into the mechanical mechanism of the machine. Normally the only way to change such a pattern was by replacing the gears, cams or the like.

In my copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 72,764, filed Sept. 16, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,564, an electronically controlled stitching machine is disclosed which places a predetermined number of stitches in a box with predetermined spacing therebetween. It has been found that when heavy boxes have been stitched either with my above-mentioned machine or any of the other prior art machines, variations in spacing occur between the stitches. The heavier the boxes the greater the variation will be. As a result, if one were merely to count the number of stitches going into a box and place the first stitch in a predetermined position, the last stitch will not necessarily be. sufficiently close to the end of the box to insure proper fastening, A further problem which occurs with heavy boxes is that greater fastening is required at the first and last stitch positions.

As mentioned above, tie stitches have been employed in the past for leading and trailing edges of boxes. However, this has been accomplished by merely applying tie stitches at the beginning and end of the predetermined pattern of stitching applied to boxes. With the heavy boxes (for which the tie stitch is most necessary), the spacing variations mentioned above is most pronounced and the placing of a tie stitch at the end of the pattern, but not sufficiently close to the end of the box, will not do the job for which it is intended.

Many box manufacturers require the normal equally spaced stitching for lightweight boxes in which a predetermined number of stitches are placed therein, yet would like to be able to provide exact last stitch placement for heavy boxes and perhaps also employ tie stitches at the beginning and end thereof.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved box stitching machine.

It is another object of this invention to provide a box stitching machine which places a last stitch at a desired position with regard to a trailing end of a box.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a box stitching machine which is capable of applying stitches to a box in a first pattern and can alter the pattern of stitching during a normal cycle thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a box stitching machine which can place a tie stitch at the leading and trailing edge of a stitched carton.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a box stitching machine which can be simply switched between various modes of operation."

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With these and other objects in view the present invention contemplates a box stitching machine including a first device for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby, a second device for moving the workpiece along a path past the first device, apparatus responsive to a first control signal for stopping and starting the second device in a first repetitive intermitten t manner in coordinated relationship to the operation of the first device to provide a first predetermined pattern of fastening means to the workpiece and a second apparatus responsive to a second control signal for stopping and starting the second device in a second intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of the first device to provide a second pattern of fastening means to the workpiece.

In the preferred embodiment the first predetermined pattern of fastening means is equal spacing between adjacent fastening means and the second pattern of fastening means is a single fastening means placed a distance from another fastening means less than the equal spacing between other fastening means thereby providing a tie stitch pattern.

In one mode of operation the stitching machine of this invention is responsive to the workpiece being at a last stitch position on the path for stopping operation of the second device to stopthe movement of the workpiece allowing the first device to apply a fastening means to the workpiece without regard to the predetermined pattern of spacing.

The machine of this invention can be switched between modes of operation so that (1) a single predetermined pattern of fastening means can be placed in the workpiece, (2) a last stitch can be placed in a last stitch position without regard to the normal stitch spacing or (3) tie stitches can be placed at either or both the leading and trailing edge of the workpiece.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description of the invention and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation partially in block diagram form and partially in isometric view showing the organization of a stitching machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention and a workpiece in which a last stitch placement has occurred;

FIG. 2 is an isometric drawing of a workpiece having tie stitches placed therein at a leading and trailing edge by a machine as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of logic circuitry for controlling the machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, we see a diagram showing the basic organization of the machine of this invention. Many of the elements in the machine of FIG. 1 are direct analogies of and organized in an analogous manner to the electronically controlled stitching machine dis- .closed in copending patent application, Ser. No.

72,764, filed Sept. 16, I970, now [1.8. Pat. No. 3,664,564, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by specific reference thereto. The stitching machine of FIG. 1 has a pair ofpull rolls 10 and 11 which move a workpiece 10 past a stitching head 13. The pull rolls I and 11 are analogous to the driving rolls 68 and 72 of the above-mentioned copending patent application. The stitching head 13 is analogous to the stitching head 12 of that application. In alike manner a motor 14, a clutch 16 and a brake l7 correspond to a motor 18, a clutch 82 and a brake 84 of the above-mentioned patent application. A further similarity between the machine of FIG. 1 and the prior machine is a counter 18 corresponding to counter 153 and a contact 19 corresponding to contact 54, a power drive unit 21 corresponding to control means 22 and photocell 22 corresponding to photoelectric sensing means 94. All of the latter corresponding elements can be found in the above referred to patent application.

In the machine of this invention extensive logic circuitry is interposed between the various sensing elements (including counter 18, contact 19 and photocell 22) and the power drive circuitry 21. In the machine of this invention an additional sensing device, photocell 24, cooperates with a light source 26 (as photocell 22 cooperates with the light source 27) to provide additional signals for the logic circuitry 23. The logic circuitry 23 also drives the clutch coil 30 in the stitching head 13.

Under the control of logic circuitry 23 (shown in detail in FIG. 3), the machine of FIG. I can provide (in accordance with the setting of a switch in the logic circuitry 23): (1) a predetermined number of equally spaced stitches in the workpiece 12 starting from a leading edge 28; (2) equally spaced stitches starting at the leading edge 28 filling the space to the trailing edge 29 and a last stitch at the trailing edge 29 (see the workpiece 31 in FIG. 1 which has been so stitched); and (3) equally spaced stitches in the center thereof and tie stitches at the leading edge 28 and the trailing edge'29 (see the workpiece 32 in FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIG. 3 we see various sensing and control elements numbered as they are in FIG. 1 and the control circuitry 23 comprising a group of active control elements 33 and a three position multi-contact switch 34 having two ganged sets of contacts 34a and 34b. In a first position of the three-position switch 34, the contacts 34a and 34b are in the states shown providing the predetermined number of equally spaced stitches to the workpiece 12.In the second position the contacts 34b are switched to the positions other than shown in the drawings while the contacts 34a remain as shown. In this second position the stitching machine provides the equally spaced stitches starting at the leading edge 28 filling the space to the trailing edge 29 and then places a last stitch at the trailing edge 29. In the third position of the three-position switch 34, the contacts 34a and 34b are both switched to the opposite position than shown in the drawing. In this third position the stitching machine provides equally spaced stitches in the center of the workpiece 12 and tie stitches at the leading edge 28 and the trailing edge 29.

OPERATION OF STITCHING MACHINE IN FIRST OF EQUALLY SPACED STITCHES) With the switch 34a in its first position (with contacts as shown in FIG. 3) the stitching machine operates essentially as described in the above referred to copending patent application. Looking at both FIGS. 1 and 3 we see that when the workpiece l2 interrupts the light shining from'the light source 27 to the photocell 22, a signal is provided on a lead 36 to activate a timer 37. When the timer 37 has timed out, a pulse is applied to a set input of a flip-flop 38. The output of the flip-flop 38 is applied by a lead 39 to an And gate 41 and by a lead 42 to an Or gate 43. The signal on the lead 42 (which may be differentiated by input circuitry in the Or gate 43) provides a brake pulse on a lead 44. The brake pulse on the lead 44 activates the power drive circuitry 21 to energize the brake l7 and deenergize the clutch 16 thereby stopping the movement of the workpiece 12. it should be noted that the timer 37 is set to allow the workpiece 12 to travel a distance desired past the flap thereof to arrive at the position with respect to the stitching head 13 where the first stitch is to be placed.

The output of the flip-flop 38 is also applied by lead 46 to the solenoid clutch coil 30 of the stitching head 13 enabling the stitching head 13 to begin operation. After a stitch has been placed in the workpiece 12 by the stitching head 13, the contacts 19 provide a pulse to a pulse shaper 47 providing a clutch pulse on a clutch pulse lead 48. The clutch pulse enables the power drive circuitry 21 to disengage the brake 17 and engage the clutch 16 energizing the pull rolls and 11 thereby again moving the workpiece 12. As was pointed out in the previously discussed patent application the photocell 22 could also provide a signal (by means not shown) to the motor 14 altering the speed of drive during stitching operation than during the feed in and feed out operation.

The clutch pulse provided by the pulse shaper 47 is also applied by a lead 49 to a timer 51. The timer 5] provides a pulse on a lead 52, a predetermined time after the pulse on the lead 49- is applied thereto. The pulse from the timer 51 on the lead 52 passes through And gate 53, Or gate 54, now enabled And gate 41 and Or gate 43 to provide a second brake pulse on the lead 44. The abovedescribed sequence of brake and clutch pulses being'supplied on the leads 44 and 48 continue in the above-described repetitive intermittent manner providing equally spaced stitchesin the workpiece 12 until the counter 18 counts a predetermined number of operations of the stitching head 13 providing a pulse on a lead 56. The pulse on the lead 56 passes through a normally closed contact of the ganged contacts 34b to a lead 57. The pulse on the lead 57 resets the flip-flop 38 disabling And gate 41 from passing further brake pulses supplied from the timer 51. Therefore, as the stitching head completes its last stitch in its predetermined sequence and the contacts 19 supply a final clutch pulse through the pulse shaper 47 the brake pulse which normally ensues a fixed time thereafter by operation of the timer S1, is inhibited by the And gate 41 so that the workpiece 12 receives no more stitches and is driven from the stitching machine. It should be understood, of course, that a signal from the counter 18 can also be used to alter the speed of operation of the motor 14 to provide a rapid exit velocity for the workpiece 12.

OPERATION OF STITCH-INC MACHINE IN. SECOND SWITCH POSITION (LAST STITCH PLACEMENT) the switch 34 may be turned to its second position closing the normally opened contacts in the ganged bank of switches 34!; and opening the normally closed contact therein.

With the bank of switches 34b in their switched posi tion (opposite to what is shown in the drawing), the

machine will begin its sequence of operation in the same manner as when the predetermined number of stitches are placed in the workpiece 12. When the workpiece passes the photocell 22 the signal is again supplied on the lead 36 activating the timer 37. Activation of the timer 37 again sets flip-flop 38 providing the first brake pulse via lead 42, Or gate 43, lead 44 and power drive circuitry 21 to the brake 17. The flip-flop 38 also enables And gate 41 via lead 39. In a like manner the stitching head 13 is activated by the flip-flop 38 via lead 46 and clutch coil 30. After the first stitch is placed by the stitching head 13, contacts 19 again provide a clutch pulse via pulse shaper 47, lead 48 and power drive circuitry 21. The next brake pulse is supplied by the timer 51, lead 52, normally enabled And gate 53, Or gate 54, And gate 41, Or gate 43 and lead 44. This sequence continues until, in this switch position, the workpiece 12 no longer blocks the light from the light source 26 energizing the photocell 24 indicating that the workpiece 12 is now in position for a last stitch to be placed at the trailing edge 29 of the workpiece 12. It should be clear that the location of the light photocell combination 26 and 24 is placed in a position dictated by the physical characteristics of the workpiece 12 and the position of the stitching head 13.

When a signal is supplied by the photocell 24 on a lead 58 it is passed by a now closed normally opened contact of the set of switches 34b to a lead 59 to activate Or gate 43 providing a pulse on lead 44 for application to power drive circuitry 21 again energizing the brake 17 and disengaging the clutch l6 thereby stopping the workpiece 12 at a last :stitch position. The stitching head 13 continues to operate in its normal cycle but the workpiece 12 remains stationaryat the last stitch position until the next stitch is placed in the workpiece 12. At this time the contacts 19 again activate pulse shaper 48 to provide a clutch pulse on the lead 48 through the power driver 21 to energize the clutch 16 and disengage the brake 17.

The signal from the photocell 24 is also applied by lead 61 to an And gate 62. The signal from the pulse shaper 47 is applied by a lead 63 through the ganged switch 34b and lead 64 to a second input of the And gate 62. A lead 66 in this mode also provides an enabling signal to the And gate 62 so that when the signal from the photocell 24 is provided by the lead 61 to the And gate 62 and the signal from the pulse shaper 47 is applied within a predetermined time thereafter by the lead 64 to the And gate 62, a signal is applied on lead 67 through ganged switches 34b to the lead 57 for resetting the flip-flop 38. As discussed with respect to the previous mode of operation, the resetting of the flipflop 38 disables the And gate 41 from allowing the further brake pu'lsest'o be applied to the stitchingmachine. Therefore it is seen that after the placement of the last stitch the workpiece 12 is ejected.

As a result of the placing of the switch 34 in its secend position, it is seen that rather than providing a predetermined number of equally spaced fastening means (stitches) to the workpiece 12, the machine of this in-' vention now provides equally spaced stitches from the leading edge of the workpiece 28 until the light photocell combination 26 and 24 senses a last stitch position. The workpiece 12 is then stopped until a last stitch is placed at the trailing edge 29 and then ,the workpiece 12 is ejected from the machine. In this way the number of stitches placed in the workpiece 12 are not predetermined but rather determined by the machine reaching the last stitch position. Further, one is now assured that a stitch will be placed both at the first stitch and last stitch positions defined by the leading and trailing edges 28 and 29, respectively, so that when a box is formed from the workpiece 12 a stitch is placed sufficiently close to the edges thereof.

OPERATION OF STITCHING MACHINE IN THIRD SWITCH POSITION (TIE STITCH PLACEMENT) When the switch 34 is thrown to its third position both of the sets of ganged switches 34a and 34b are in the positions opposite to what is shown in the drawing. It should be understood that in this embodiment the tie stitch placement is made while the machine is also-in the last stitch placement mode. It should be clear that tie stitches can be employed in accordance with the teachings of this invention in other modes of operation including the predetermined number of stitch mode described before.

In the tie stitch placement mode the initiation of operation begins again when the workpiece 12 intercepts the path of the light from the light source 27 to the photocell 22, activating timer 37 to set flip-flop 38 opening up And gate 41 and providing the first brake pulse. In this embodiment, however, the timer 37 also applies its pulse to lead 68, through a contact in the bank 34a, and lead 69 to an Or gate 71. The Or gate 71 passes the pulse via lead 72 to set a flip-flop 73. The setting of the flip-flop 73 disables normally enabled And gate 53 from passing pulses therethrough and enables normally disabled And gate 74 to pass pulses therethrough.

As in the other modes of operation the flip-flop 38 also activates the stapling head 13 to provide a first stitch at the leading edge 28. When this first stitch is placed the contacts 19 energize pulse shaper 47- for providing the first clutch pulse tobegin movement of the workpiece 12. The pulse from the pulser 47 is applied via lead 76, the set of ganged contacts 34a and lead 77 to a timer 78. The timer 78 provides a pulse on a lead 79, a time interval after it is energized by the pulse on a lead 77. The timer 78 is set to provide a pulse a shorter time interval after the pulse from the pulse shaper 47 than is the timer The pulse on the lead 79 passes through And gate 74 and is applied via lead 81 to the Or gate 54. The Or gate 54 passes this pulse to And gate 41, Or gate 43 and lead 44 to energize the power drive circuitry 21 to energize brake 17 and deenergize clutch 16 stopping the workpiece 12. Since the time interval provided by the timer 78 is shorter than the time interval provided by the timer 41, the spacing between the switch which is applied'to the workpiece 12 will be less than the normal spacing provided by the timer 5]. The spacing provided by the timer 78 is chosen to provide what is commonly known in the industry as a "tie stitch," a double stitch closely spaced together which is normally put at the ends of a seam to give added strength.

' The pulse from the And gate 74 is'also applied via lead 82, the ganged contacts 34a, and lead 66 to the And gate 62. Since, however, other inputs to the And gate 62 are not energized within the appropriate time interval provided by the And gate 62, no signal is passed thereby.

The pulse on the lead 79 is also applied by a lead 84 to reset flip-flop 73 disabling And gate 74 from passing additional pulses therethrough and reenabling Arid gate 53 to then pass pulses from the timer 51. Since the timer 51 will provide a pulse after the pulse on the lead 79, a delay can be built into the output of the flip-flop 73 to take this into account or into the input of And gate 53. Similarly, the And gate 53 can be inserted at the input end of the timer 51 inhibiting the pulse on the lead 49 from being applied thereto. Further the timer 51 can have an inhibit input which can be driven by the flip-flop 73. Any of these or arrangements of circuitry can be employed to provide the desired logical effect.

After the second stitch of the tie stitch is inserted in the workpiece 12 the contacts 19 again energize the pulse shaper 47 to provide a signal on the lead 48 reenergizing the clutch 16 and deenergizing the brake 17 again moving the workpiece 12. This time the signal provided by the timer 78 is inhibited by And gate 74 and therefore is of no effect. The pulse from the timer 51, however, now passes through the And gate 53, Or gate 54, And gate 41 and Or gate 43 to stop the movement of the workpiece 12. Since the time interval which the workpiece is moving is now under the control of the timer 51 the normal predetermined spacing is again returned. Therefore, it is seen that a tie stitch has been placed, as for example seen in FIG. 2, adjacent to the leading edge of the workpiece 12 and the next or third stitch is returned to its normal spacing.

When a last stitch position is arrived at as determined by activation of a photocell 24, a signal is applied by lead 58, ganged switch 34b, lead 59 to Or gate 43 stopping the workpiece at the last stitch position. At the same time the signal from the photocell 24 is passed by lead 86, ganged switches 34a and lead 87 to the Or gate 71. The Or gate 71 provides its output again on the lead 72 to again set the flip-flop 73. As before the flip-flop 73 disables the And gate 53 from passing pulse from the timer 51. When the stitching head 13 places a stitch in the workpiece 12, the contacts 19 again energize pulse shaper 47 to engage the clutch 16 and disengage the brake 17.

In this case, however, in distinction from the last stitch position case, the lead 66 to the And gate 62 has a signal thereon which inhibits the And gate 62 from operation. Therefore the flip-flop 38 is not reset at this time. Instead the pulse from the pulse shaper 47 is passed via lead 76, the switch from the ganged switches already been applied by the photocell 24 via lead 61 to the And gate 62, the next time the contacts 19 close energizing pulse shaper 47 and the clutch brake combination to move the workpiece 12, the And gate 62 provides a signal onlead 67 through the contacts of the ganged switch 34b and the lead 57 back toreset the flip-flop 38. This disables And gate 41 from providing any further brake pulses and therefore the workpiece is ejected from the machine. It should be understood that in this embodiment the last stitch position is in fact the position in which a last tie stitch is placed so that when discussing the last stitch position for a tie stitch, a greater distance from the trailing edge 29 must be considered.

As one can see the machine described above in detail not only has the capability of providing a normal predetermined number of stitches equally spaced and the 9. novel capability of providing a last stitch in a last stitch position and the additional novel capability of providing tie stitches, it also is an extremely flexible machine which simply through the electronics, the machine of this invention can be converted into any one of the three machines described. It should be further stressed that the tie stitches can be placed at the leading and trailing edge even if the first mode of operation is employed rather than the second as described. It should be further understood that this machine can be further expanded to provide various sen sing signals by following the teachings as set forth above..

it should be understood that while the invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, numerous other will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A stitching machine including:

first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby;

second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means;

third means for normally stopping and starting said second means in a repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means toprovide a predetermined spaced pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; and fourth means responsive to said workpiece being at a last stitch position on said path for stopping operation of said second means to stop said movement of said workpiece allowing said first means to apply a fastening means to said workpiece at a place related to s aid configuration of said workpiece without regard to said predetermined pattern of spacmg. t 1

2. The stitching machine as defined in claim 1 in which operation of said fourth means renders said third means inoperative to stop said operation of said second means so that upon the next operation of said third means to start said movement of said workpiece, said workpiece may move completely past said first means.

3. The stitching machine as defined in claim 1 in which said first means is rendered operative by a control signal; said machine also including:

fifth means responsive to said workpiece being at a first stitch position on said path forproviding said control signal.

4. The stitching machine as defined in claim 3 in which operation of said fifth means stops said second means thereby stopping movement of said workpiece allowing said workpiece to be fastened at a position related to said configuration thereof.

5. The stitching machine as defined in claim 4 in which said fifth means is rendered effective by said fourth means to no longer provide said control signal.

6. The stitching machine as defined in claim 5 in which said fifth means is responsive to operation of said first means to no longer provide said control signal.

7. The stitching machine as defined in claim 6 in which operation of saidfourth means renders said third means inoperative to stop said operation of said second means so that upon the next operation of said third means to start said movement of said workpiece, said workpiece may move completely past said first means. 6

9. The stitching machine as defined in claim 8 in which removal of said control signal from said first means stops operation thereof at the end of the cycle thereof.

10. The stitching machine as defined in claim 7 in which said third means includes:

means responsive to operation of said first means for providing a clutch pulse to startsaid second means; and

a first timer responsive to said clutch pulse for providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter to stop said second means. i

11. The stitching machine as defined in claim 10 in which said fourth means includes:

a first light photocell combination for detecting that said workpiece is in a last stitch position and providing a last stitch signal;

means responsive to said last stitch signal for providing a brake pulse to stop said second means; and

means responsive to said last stitch signal for rendering said first timer unable to provide further brake pulses.

12. The stitching machine as defined in claim 11 in which said fifth means includes: 7

a second light photocell combination for detecting that said workpiece is in said first stitch position to provide a first stitch signal; and

asecond timer responsive to said. first stitch signal for 1 providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter and said control signal.

13. A stitching machine including:

first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby;

second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means;

third means responsive to a first control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a first repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a first predetermined pattern of fastening means to said workpiece;

fourth means responsive to a second control signal for stopping and starting second means in a second intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a second pattern of fastening means to said workpiece;

said first predetermined pattern of fastening means is equal spacing between adjacent fastening means, said equal spacing being of a first predetermined distance;

said second predetermined pattern of fastening means is a single fastening means placed a distance from another fastening means; less than said first predetermined distance; and in which said third means includes:

means responsive to operation of said first means for providing a clutch pulse to start said second means;

a first timer responsive to said clutch pulse for providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter to stop said second means.

V 14. The stitching machine as defined in claim 13 in which said fourth means includes:

a light photocell combination for detecting that said workpiece is at a predetermined position on said path to provide a tie stitch signal;

a second timer responsive to said clutch pulse for providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter to stop said second means; said fixed time from said second timer being less than said fixed time from said first timer; and

said first timer being inhibited by said tie stitch signal and said second timer being enabled by said tie stitch signal for one pulse thereof.

15. A stitching machine including:

first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby;

second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means; third meansresponsive to a first control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a first repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationsip to operation of said first means to provide a first predetermined pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; fourth means responsive to a second control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a second intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a second pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; I

fifth means responsive to a pattern change signal for providing either said first or said second control signals; sixth means responsive to said workpiece being present at a first predetermined position on said path for providing av first of said pattern change signals;

said fifth means normally provides said first control signal and is responsive to said first of said pattern change signals for providing said second control signal; and in which said fourthmeans also provides a second of said pattern change signals after said second pattern of fastening has been provided thereby.

16. The stitching machine as defined in claim 15 in which said fifth means is responsive to said second of said pattern change signals for providing said first control signal.

17. The stitching machine as defined in claim 16 in which said first of saidpattem change signals renders said third means inoperative to stop said operation of said second means so that upon the next operation of said third means to start said movement of said workpiece, said workpiece may move completely past said first means.

18. The stitching machine as defined in claim 17 in which said first predetermined position on said path is a laststitch position.

19. The stitching machine as defined in claim 18 in which said second pattern is a tie stitch pattern.

20. The stitching machine as defined in claim 18 in which said first predetermined pattern of fastening means is equal spacing between adjacent fastening means, said equal spacing being of a first predetermined distance; and said second predetermined pattern of fastening means is a single fastening means placed a distance from another fastening means less than said first predetermined distance.

21. The stitching machine as defined in claim 19 in which said first means is rendered operative by a third control signal; said machine also including:

seventh means responsive to said workpiece being at a first stitch position on said path for providing a third of said pattern change signals.

22. The stitching machine as defined in claim 21 in which said third control signal is said third of said pattern change signals; and said fifth means is responsive to said third of said pattern change signals for providing said second control signal.

23. The stitching machine as defined in claim 22 in which said first means normally operates cyclically at a predetermined repetition rate.

24. The stitching machine as defined in claim 23 in which removal of said control signal from said first means stops operation thereof at the end of the cycle thereof.

25. A stitching machine including:

first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby;

second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means;

third means responsive to a first control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a first repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a first predetermined pattern of fastening means to said workpiece;

fourth means selectively connectable to said third means responsive to a second control signal for en- 1 abling said third means to stop and start said second means in a second intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a second pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; and fifth means selectively connectable to said third means responsive to said second control signal for enabling said third means to stop said second means allowing said first means to apply a fastening means to said workpiece at a place related to said configuration of said workpiece. 26. The stitching machine as defined in claim 25 in which said second control signal is generated when said workpiece is in either a first stitch or a last stitchpositlOl'l. 

1. A stitching machine including: first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby; second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means; third means for normally stopping and starting said second means in a repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a predetermined spaced pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; and fourth means responsive to said workpiece being at a last stitch position on said path for stopping operation of said second means to stop said movement of said workpiece allowing said first means to apply a fastening means to said workpiece at a place related to said configuration of said workpiece without regard to said predetermined pattern of spacing.
 2. The stitching machine as defined in claim 1 in which operation of said fourth means renders said third means inoperative to stop said operation of said second means so that upon the next operation of said third means to start said movement of said workpiece, said workpiece may move completely past said first means.
 3. The stitching machine as defined in claim 1 in which said first means is rendered operative by a control signal; said machine also including: fifth means responsive to said workpiece being at a first stitch position on said path for providing said control signal.
 4. The stitching machine as defined in claim 3 in which operation of said fifth means stops said second means thereby stopping movement of said workpiece allowing said workpiece to be fastened at a position related to said configuration thereof.
 5. The stitching machine as defined in clAim 4 in which said fifth means is rendered effective by said fourth means to no longer provide said control signal.
 6. The stitching machine as defined in claim 5 in which said fifth means is responsive to operation of said first means to no longer provide said control signal.
 7. The stitching machine as defined in claim 6 in which operation of said fourth means renders said third means inoperative to stop said operation of said second means so that upon the next operation of said third means to start said movement of said workpiece, said workpiece may move completely past said first means.
 8. The stitching machine as defined in claim 7 in which said first means normally operates cyclically at a predetermined repetition rate.
 9. The stitching machine as defined in claim 8 in which removal of said control signal from said first means stops operation thereof at the end of the cycle thereof.
 10. The stitching machine as defined in claim 7 in which said third means includes: means responsive to operation of said first means for providing a clutch pulse to start said second means; and a first timer responsive to said clutch pulse for providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter to stop said second means.
 11. The stitching machine as defined in claim 10 in which said fourth means includes: a first light photocell combination for detecting that said workpiece is in a last stitch position and providing a last stitch signal; means responsive to said last stitch signal for providing a brake pulse to stop said second means; and means responsive to said last stitch signal for rendering said first timer unable to provide further brake pulses.
 12. The stitching machine as defined in claim 11 in which said fifth means includes: a second light photocell combination for detecting that said workpiece is in said first stitch position to provide a first stitch signal; and a second timer responsive to said first stitch signal for providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter and said control signal.
 13. A stitching machine including: first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby; second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means; third means responsive to a first control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a first repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a first predetermined pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; fourth means responsive to a second control signal for stopping and starting second means in a second intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a second pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; said first predetermined pattern of fastening means is equal spacing between adjacent fastening means, said equal spacing being of a first predetermined distance; said second predetermined pattern of fastening means is a single fastening means placed a distance from another fastening means less than said first predetermined distance; and in which said third means includes: means responsive to operation of said first means for providing a clutch pulse to start said second means; a first timer responsive to said clutch pulse for providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter to stop said second means.
 14. The stitching machine as defined in claim 13 in which said fourth means includes: a light photocell combination for detecting that said workpiece is at a predetermined position on said path to provide a tie stitch signal; a second timer responsive to said clutch pulse for providing a brake pulse a fixed time thereafter to stop said second means; said fixed time from said second timer being less than said fixed time from said first timer; and said first timer being inhibited by said tie stitch signal and said second timer being enabled by said tie stitch signal for one pulse thereOf.
 15. A stitching machine including: first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby; second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means; third means responsive to a first control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a first repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationsip to operation of said first means to provide a first predetermined pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; fourth means responsive to a second control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a second intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a second pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; fifth means responsive to a pattern change signal for providing either said first or said second control signals; sixth means responsive to said workpiece being present at a first predetermined position on said path for providing a first of said pattern change signals; said fifth means normally provides said first control signal and is responsive to said first of said pattern change signals for providing said second control signal; and in which said fourth means also provides a second of said pattern change signals after said second pattern of fastening has been provided thereby.
 16. The stitching machine as defined in claim 15 in which said fifth means is responsive to said second of said pattern change signals for providing said first control signal.
 17. The stitching machine as defined in claim 16 in which said first of said pattern change signals renders said third means inoperative to stop said operation of said second means so that upon the next operation of said third means to start said movement of said workpiece, said workpiece may move completely past said first means.
 18. The stitching machine as defined in claim 17 in which said first predetermined position on said path is a last stitch position.
 19. The stitching machine as defined in claim 18 in which said second pattern is a tie stitch pattern.
 20. The stitching machine as defined in claim 18 in which said first predetermined pattern of fastening means is equal spacing between adjacent fastening means, said equal spacing being of a first predetermined distance; and said second predetermined pattern of fastening means is a single fastening means placed a distance from another fastening means less than said first predetermined distance.
 21. The stitching machine as defined in claim 19 in which said first means is rendered operative by a third control signal; said machine also including: seventh means responsive to said workpiece being at a first stitch position on said path for providing a third of said pattern change signals.
 22. The stitching machine as defined in claim 21 in which said third control signal is said third of said pattern change signals; and said fifth means is responsive to said third of said pattern change signals for providing said second control signal.
 23. The stitching machine as defined in claim 22 in which said first means normally operates cyclically at a predetermined repetition rate.
 24. The stitching machine as defined in claim 23 in which removal of said control signal from said first means stops operation thereof at the end of the cycle thereof.
 25. A stitching machine including: first means for applying fastening means to a workpiece passing thereby; second means for moving said workpiece along a path past said first means; third means responsive to a first control signal for stopping and starting said second means in a first repetitive intermittent manner in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a first predetermined pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; fourth means selectively connectable to said third means responsive to a second control signal for enabling said third means to stop and start said second means in a second intermittent manneR in coordinated relationship to operation of said first means to provide a second pattern of fastening means to said workpiece; and fifth means selectively connectable to said third means responsive to said second control signal for enabling said third means to stop said second means allowing said first means to apply a fastening means to said workpiece at a place related to said configuration of said workpiece.
 26. The stitching machine as defined in claim 25 in which said second control signal is generated when said workpiece is in either a first stitch or a last stitch position. 